Toulon Township High School - Tolo Yearbook (Toulon, IL)

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March, Nineteen Twenty-Nine JUST TALK. One time while I was in the South, I was standing on a corner in a Georgia village and overheard the following conversation between two old negroes as they ambled down the street: “And dat’s not all, Rastus, ah killed a possum once’t dat wuz six’t foot frum der tip uff hiz noztrails tah der udder tip uff hiz wagger. Hit tuck all mah super-haid know’in tuh git um, Bo, and yo’ know I’se wun uff de earth’s ’riginail sharpshooters.” “Yuh don’ sey so,” said Rastus, “I’se sees nuthin’ common ’bout dat. I’se nebber shoots dem iff dey izz les than siz’t foot.” “Lissen, Black Bo,” said the first, “Iff yo all see’d a possum six’t foot frum his noztrails rite on back, you’d trabble fas’, Bo, you’ trabble fas’.” “Sey, Coon,” said Rastus, “Ah’m going’ tah get con-si-dental wiff yuh. Don’ yo all in-singe on mah coo-rageous doin’s or Ah’ll git mah ra zoo, Bo, and carve you’ so yo’ Missue don re-liz hits her husbun’.” “Keep on, Ign-ant, keep on, and yo’ll haff tah git crutches fo’ you brains. Dat’s de kind uff boy ah iz,” said the first old negro. “Yo’ izz the li’eness nigger ah know,” said the one called Rastus, “But ah’ll let you be, mah spirits ud bodder iff ah hurt you’.” “Don’ worry ’bout de spirits, Blaskie, jus dispute mah word again und you’ll be wid dem.” “Yo’ don’ sey, yo don’ sey,” purred Rastus, “Yo’ bark is wuse dan yo’ bite, yo’ couldn’t bodder a meskito, so jes’ trabble down de way. I’se no time tah lissen tah you’ braggin’.” “Well, I’se bedder be goin’ but git in you’ heaid, Rastus, I’se wunt stan’ fo’ no messin’ wid mah huntin’ pow’ess.” “Oh, dat’s all rite, Shanks, I’se know’ed all de time yo’ wu a grand ’unter but ah jus’ wunted tah be shure.” “Sey, Rastus, did ah ebber tell yah ’bout de time ah shot de alley-gaiter down in de ribber----------” And they drifted on down the street telling tales and arguing. And I wonder if they don’t represent a lot of us in life. Going down life’s road doing a lot of bragging, telling everyone what you are going to do and what you have done. But really talk without action is useless. —Roy Burcham. THE ASSASSINATION OF AIN’T. A small group of students stood in the English room where Good English sat enthroned. “Is there anything else that I or my council can do for you?” he inquired. One of the students advanced. “Oh, most mighty English—” “There’s no need of any fond remarks, Otis. Your brother has been banished and I intend that he shall remain banished! The idea of saying

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6 March, Nineteen Twenty-Nine AFTER I GRADUATE. School days over, and life ahead, Am I fit to pass the test? Can I put to use what each book said, And rise above the rest? Or must I live and be content, A common working man, And waste all that my father spent, To put me where I am? With the happy days of freedom past, And grim old life ahead, Work to live is mine at last, To toil for life’s own bread. Am I great enough to keep away From the things I know are wrong? Am I great enough to lose today And arise the next with a song? Am I great enough to keep my heart, My soul and body strong? To play it square and do my part, When every one says I’m wrong? Can I go thru the pitfalls of life? Along that narrow lane, And gain success with honest strife, With a pure and upright name? If I can, then I’m glad, For I’ve passed the great test, And I’ll be thankful to Dad, My teachers and all the rest, For God is watching over all, And He can see the best, And thru our murky battle pall, He knows I’ve passed His test. —R. Burcham. If you have a friend worth loving, Love him. Yes and let him know That you love him, ere life’s evening Tinge his brow with sunset glow. Why should good words ne’er be said Of a friend till he is dead? If you hear a song that thrills you, Sung by any child of song, Praise it. Do not let the singer Wait deserved praises long. Why should one who thrills your heart Lack the joy you may impart? —K. B.

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8 March, Nineteen Twenty-Nine ‘ain’t.’ I won’t have such people in my kingdom.” “Oh, English, I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, English.” The great king English was thoroughly provoked by now. Even Keith, the star of the English students, begged the repeal of Otis’ brother, Ed, who had been banished for using poor grammar in the class room. “Are you in this too, Keith ? I’m surprised at you!” “Pardon, English; English pardon!” said Slang, who had taken his stand before the throne. “I will bow to the ground begging Ed’s repeal.” “I could be easily moved if I were as weak as you,” was the king’s reply. “But, fortunately, I am not. I am as firm as the court house building, the only king among kings who can say this of himself. As I have said before, Ed is banished, and shall never again enter the class room until he produces a white card and promises never to say ‘ain’t’ again.” A few of the students had separated from the rest. They stood in one corner of the room and seemed to be planning among themselves. Slang now joined them and began to speak. “You go first Woody, and we’ll show the cock-eyed world whether such an old sap as English can rule us! When you give the signal, the rest will follow.” They went back and knelt before the throne, renewing their pleas in addition to the ones already being offered. “Oh, English—” “Disperse! Would you change a man as determined as Miss Silli-man ?” was English’s reply to this plea. “Great English—” “Does not the marvelous Keith kneel to no avail? Do you not know that it is useless for you to attempt where he fails ?” English rebuked them again for their remarks. “Then speak, hands, for me!” It was Woodrow who spoke, and as he uttered the words, he shot English in the shoulder. Immediately the others followed him, the last one being Keith, the star of the English class. “And you, too, Keith? Then fall, English!” With these words the great king fell to the floor, killed by the bullet of his dearest friend’s gun. Milo entered, demanding reasons for the shooting. “It is not, oh, Milo, that I loved English less, but that I loved our school more. As English loved me, I weep for him; as I made wonderful grades in that subject, I loved him ; as he was fortunate, I rejoiced for him ; but as he was ambitious and wished to rule us all, I shot him! Are you so base that you wish to be a slave? Are you so uncivilized that you do not wish to belong to our school? If you are, I have offended you. But remember that what I have done to English you may do to me when you desire my death!” “Very good reasons, Keith, and now leave me to mourn my dead.” Keith left, leaving Milo standing over the body of English. As he de-